Members of the Fighting 69th unit of the Army National Guard left Bay Shore Sunday in frigid temperatures bound for Fort Bragg, N.C.

The 130 men are among 1,400 troops from New York being deployed in the operation. The Long Island unit will train in North Carolina for two months before spending a year in Afghanistan. The troops will train Afghan army and police forces.

"I'm a former Marine," says Pfc. Michael Cirelli, of Lindenhurst. "I just want to do my job, do it well and come home."

Others were also optimistic about their mission, but admitted saying goodbye to loved ones is always hard.

"[It's] very difficult," says Steven D'Agostino, of the Fighting 69th. "It's the first time I have left my wife and family for this length of time."